The fire was quite spectacular to watch on TV and spread quite quickly. It
is all over now (and has been since early afternoon). Apparently no one
seriously hurt. Sounds like hotel is currently closed, with tourists being taken
up to their rooms to get out their stuff, then being sent to nearby
MGM/Mirage hotels.
···
--------------------------------
From AOL:
Smith said it was too early to assess damage or say what caused Friday's
fire, which began just before 11 a.m. and was under control in about an hour.
There was no immediate indication of criminal activity or arson, but "nothing is
ruled out at this time," Smith said.
Clark County spokesman Erik Pappa said county officials were told welders
were working on the roof of the building before the fire.
Smith called the Monte Carlo blaze an exterior fire, which was largely
confined to the rooftop and the facade of the upper floors. The facade was made of
a foam material that "melted off the side of the building and started a few
fires below," Smith said.
Employees went door-to-door evacuating the hotel, said Gordon Absher, a
spokesman for the resort's owner, MGM Mirage Inc. The fire chief said no one had
to be rescued.
---------------------------------------
No word yet when guests will return to their rooms, but certainly there was
major damage on top floor and probably several floors below from water and
smoke at the least. (at 9:30pm Vegas time)
**************Biggest Grammy Award surprises of all time on AOL Music.
(http://music.aol.com/grammys/pictures/never-won-a-grammy?NCID=aolcmp003000000025
48)
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]